Crate for fragile boxes.



Patented Mar. 27., 1900.

L. L. MERRIMAN.

CRATE FOB FRAGILE BOXES.

(Application filed July 8, 1899') (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

LORENZO L. MERRIMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CRATE FOR FRAG ILE BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 646,298, dated March27, 1900.

Application filed July 8, 1899. Serial ITO-"723,236. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LORENZO L. MERRIMAN, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cratesfor Fragile Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to crates for fragile boxes, and particularly to aform designed for holding together a number of pasteb'oard boxes.

The main objects of my invention are, first, to provide a light, simple,and inexpensive device for holding together and protecting the cornersof said boxes, and, second, to provide suitable means for securing saiddevice in position without the use of fasteners entering the material ofthe boxes. I accomplish these objects by the device illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a number of pasteboard boxes having a crate constructed and attachedaccording to my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the blank from which thecratestrips are formed, being partly broken-away. Fig. Sis aview showingthe manner of bending the strips to form the corners. Fig. 4 is aperspective view of a seal for locking the strips together. Fig. 5 is asection through the seal, showing the same compressed upon the stripsafter insert-ion of the latter.

The boxes shown in Fig. 1 are such as are ordinarily used in packingstogies. The crate shown consists of two continuous metal strips passingdiagonally across the ends of the boxes from corner to corner and thencealong the edge or corner of the boxes intermediate of said ends. Saidstrips cross each other at the rear end, as shown in dotted lines inFig.

1. At the front end said strips are connected by means of the seal 7.Each strip consists of a wide part 1, having a narrower extension 5 atone end. In the form shown the extension 4 connects two of the parts 1.The cuts 2 in the part 1 form tongues 3. When the corners are formed,the tongues 3 are bent across each other and under the extensions 4 and5. The extension 5 at its free end is preferably notched to form theshoulders 6. The seal 7 has recesses 8 extending entirely through thesame and crossing each other for receiving the strips 5. When saidstrips are inserted in said recesses, the seal 7, being of soft metal,such as lead, is compressed upon the strips, as shown in Fig. 5, andinto the notches 6, as indicated by the dotted lines. The seal may becompressed by any suitable instrument for that purpose. It will beunderstood that a similar seal may be used at the rear end, the strips 5in such case being substituted for the continuous strips 4.

The parts 1 are creased or bent over the edges of the boxes, so as tolap over on each wall forming said edges, said parts 1 thus beingangular in cross-section. The exten sions 5 are then bent down and thetongues 3 bent under the same, as before described.

It will be understood that the strips may be bent into position upon theboxes or that said strips may be previously formed, as shown in Fig. 1,before attachment to the boxes, the same being sprung slightly to ad=mit the boxes and afterward sealed together, as before described.

It will be understood that my device may be used for strengthening asingle box, that any suitable fastener may be substituted for the seal,and that other details of my invention may bealtered in numerous wayswithout departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore do notconfine myself to such details.

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. In a box-crate, the sheet metal strip formed of a single piece,comprising the part 1 angular in cross-section, the part 5 bent at anangle to the part 1, the tongues 3 formed by cuts at the base of thepart 5 and bent across each other and under the part 5, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination of a series of boxes placed end to end, with thedetachable crate formed of the sheet-metal strips 1 angular in crosssection, having the extension 5 and tongues 3 bent across each other andunder said extensions and means for connecting the free ends of theextensions 5; the parts of said crate being disposed upon said boxes,substantially as shown and described.

Signed by me at Chicago, Illinois, this 5th day of July, 1899.

LORENZO L. MERRIMAN.

\Vitn esses:

GLEN O. STEPHENS, WM. R. RUMMLER.

